January 7, 2026
A SPECIAL PERSONAL NEW YEAR’S THANK YOU.
I want to thank the extraordinary folks at the Simi Valley Home Depot for going far out of their way to return my cane (walking stick) which I left at the store a couple of weeks ago. A special thanks to Sherry at the Service Desk who personally delivered it to my office following her call. I’ve always received great service at Home Depot over the years, but this was superlative, saving me the risk of driving on rainy streets.
Thanks again, Simi Valley Home Depot (and Sherry), you’re the best!
****
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Happy New Year, Kelly,
I’m glad you’re looking forward to refreshing our issues. I’ll just begin at the beginning.
Trump “threatened to invade Iran “to protect the civil rights of its protesting citizens as he does not do for Americans at home”. Two very different problems, Kelly. Iran is the world’s largest terrorist state. Trump, thankfully, destroyed Iran’s nuclear threat. Do you applaud that action? American protestors have not undergone years of persecution under bloodthirsty Ayatollahs. The Iranian people now seek freedom with the opportunity Trump has provided. Do you support the pursuit of freedom? Would you like to be forced into a burka? American protestors are protected by their Constitution. As to Greenland, anyone speaking about the use of force to achieve that goal is foolish. America has used Greenland as a critical part of its defense strategy for decades, a friendly and mutually beneficial association. Why not a hundred-year lease of our existing usage? In that way Denmark and Greenland would hugely benefit, and the world would continue to be safer.
About Venezuela. It has the world’s greatest proven reserves of oil (304 billion barrels), but not the sweet crude of Saudi Arabia. It is about the heaviest oil around. It requires very special, and expensive, refining equipment, which the US developed over many years, and which the stupid communist dictators quickly destroyed. In 1950 Venezuela was the fourth richest country in the world. Today Venezuela is a poor, narco-terrorist supporting nation. Trump’s arrest of Maduro and wife is justified under a valid criminal warrant. His drug trafficking has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. Do you find value in protecting the Maduro government?
Are you suggesting that President Trump is or was involved in pedophilia? Making such unfounded allegations against regular citizens is serious, could end up fetching treble damages in a defamation case. Of course, if the allegation proves to be true, by all means go ahead. But I’m sick of the arguing. I agree with you – get it into court. As for Ghislaine Maxwell, she is equally guilty of pedophilia and should serve her sentence without those perks.
About those Capital “insurrectionists”, 4-hours does not an insurrection make! An insurrection is like the infamous months-long, billion-dollar, murderous BLM inferno. Do you recognize the difference?
Only one death was caused by a firearm in that Capitol incident – caused by that Capitol police officer. Find the official statements, including that officer’s work record, more facts. You can find his history of problems online. The hours of video confirming the peaceful entry to the Capital (almost tourist like) by most, was withheld for a long time simply because it contradicted the mayhem falsely alleged by Democrats. Inside the Capital crowds were escorted by officers themselves. Check out the videos.
We don’t seem to be “shifting our debates to fresh issues”, Kelly. Maybe next week? I would like to focus more on the Russia-Ukraine war and the “too little, too late” policy facilitating a nuclear response by a desperate Putin whose country is collapsing in every meaningful way.

December 30, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi again, Kelly,
If, as you say, this week’s subject is the “Political Past, facts only, and just a few”, I tremble with the thought of having to deal with your full force agenda. I’m going to chicken out and just compare Trump’s alleged political sins with Biden’s. I’m also not feeling too energetic. On the pardoning of those arrested on January 6, 2021. I see the arrests of those “insurrectionists” as one of America’s most shameful miscarriages of justice. Remember the entire event lasted exactly 4 hours, beginning to end. The counting resumed immediately thereafter. The single death was caused by a historically negligent Capital guard with a questionable record. The deceased woman was harmless.
Physical damage was comparatively trivial. Please recall the enormity of the months-long BLM murderous, rebellion of truly radical insurrectionists, which took innocent lives, business properties and homeowners’ billions in damages, with virtually no punishment.
That “Stop the Steal” movement – killed how many people?
I’m one who believes the 2020 election was stolen despite “official” findings to the contrary.
Your complaints about “inhumane” treatment of 20 million illegal trespassers gains little sympathy from me. This is, in my opinion, the greatest free-floating act of treason and cultural assassination by the Democrat Party which can never be cured. The second is the surrender of Afghanistan.
As for “Trumps coverup of the Epstein Files”, by all means, I hope Congress finishes the job. I do not want this investigation to end up like the non-investigation of the Biden laptop, which hides prima facia evidence of massive felonious graft!
Kelly, it’s time to shift our debates to fresh issues. Over the years we have exhausted any pretense of public interest. Redundancy has pretty much trampled the life out of our arguments. With the entry of a new year, we need to strike out afresh. The stage is set for WWIII and we shouldn’t be left behind.
On the threat of war, only most Americans still cling to the traditional Yankee naivete, thinking nuclear war is at least improbable. Unfortunately, they are wrong; they don’t have an inkling about Vladmir Putin’s mental state. What’s more important is the state of his soul, which is, like Lenin’s, Hitler’s, Stalin’s, and thousands of satanic minions, satanically evil. This is the Judeo-Christian understanding.
Those who refute this explanation are Algorithmically naive (dug this up; seemed appropriate).
I’m afraid I must criticize a former co-warrior, President Trump. His extraordinary hubris, lack of historical understanding, and fraternizing with the enemy is endangering our nation’s security. After observing the Russian-Ukrainian war for 4 years, only Christians seem to understand the imminent danger. I won’t elaborate, it would do no good. Here is the latest incidence of misplaced hostility by Trump towards Ukraine and President Zelenskyy:
Alaska invitation to Putin involved having US troops on their knees putting down red carpet of welcome. Recently, no member of the Trump administration showed up to welcome President Zelenskyy at the airport in Florida – greeted only by Ukrainian staff. This, a vicious slap in the face during peace efforts, evincing a fatal flaw of incivility.
I can no longer stay silent in the face of this dangerous policy of shifting allegiances. The global situation is precariously unstable. Putin is dying by a thousand cuts, militarily, financially, and psychologically. This could not be clearer after listening to his insane rants against Ukraine, NATO, the EU, with America and all her allies. He is a man coming to know how close he is to losing his dictatorship, his life, and nothing has more meaning than his own welfare, nothing.
We are on the cusp of WWIII and America is being gravely misled into believing peace talks with a satanic liar will succeed. Only Almighty God, as Judeo-Christianity understands, can bring peace now, but only after Justice prevails – which is at the door.
Happy New Year?

12-24-2025
A happy and holy Christmas to everyone.
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Merry Christmas, Kelly,
It’s a bit of a twist of thought to proclaim your support for “this Season of Joy” by “refraining from comments about the unholy carols sung by our president on the murders of Rob Reiner and his wife.” I think you could have celebrated “this Season of Joy” by simply refraining from thoughts of murder. I do, however, agree with your characterization of Trump’s treatment of Ukraine as a “sellout” – a disgraceful, treacherous one at that. But I will not let one man’s disgrace mar the greatest miracle in all of creation – the Incarnation of Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother. I would rather stay on a joyful note. So, once again, Kelly, Merry Christmas.
****
In response to Pat Collins’ letter:
As mentioned before, I do believe we have entered a new era of human history, not the end of time.
I rely upon my personal understanding, through the Christian Gospels, Holy Tradition, approved mystics, apparitions, and saints. Summed up as faith, reason, and the Gospels. For me, and for many other Christians, nothing is more important than Doctrine (Gospels) which for Christians is preeminent. I think, you correctly esteem the Beatitudes because they are an essential part of the whole Gospel, in which we both believe. On a broader level I’m sure we both believe in the Ten Commandments.
You mention essential virtues which I believe are provided by the Holy Spirit. But whether “the future arrives not armored or armored” is largely a question of how mankind will use his free will, and whether he will unsheathe one of those most necessary virtues, courage. I think hope with faith is also based on reason, another of God’s gifts. After reviewing human history, I certainly have hope and faith in God’s mercy, but considerably less faith in mankind’s Christian fidelity. But I’m afraid I’ve drifted too far away from a Christmas message.
A happy, holy, and peaceful Christmas is what I had in mind to begin with. But though often acknowledged, “Hope springs eternal”, my view of the coming year is grim. Only prayer and humble repentance will bring us through an imminent period of justice.

December 17, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles and Pat Collins:
Hello everyone,
Kelly, your concern that I gave short shrift to Pat’s comments last week is undeserved. Or, if that is true, it was not due to disinterest but lack of time. I’m always engaged with both of your opinions, just not in agreement very often.
I don’t know much about Hegseth’s family influence upon the Dept. of War, but can you enlighten us with some facts, or must you continue to speculate? My point in making that analogy was only to show Trump and Grant as fighters.
As for Trump’s domestic achievements, I could cut and paste the well-known list, but it would stampede readers away. Here’s a few hints: Taxes, pipelines, 20-million illegal trespassers, crime, destroying Iran’s nuclear facility, saving female sports from male trans freaks, and ending the morale-killing, un-American equity-inclusion-diversity scam. Most people understand these actions to be Donald Trump’s domestic policy achievements.
So, I still salute Trump’s domestic victories, but I must absolutely condemn his shameful treatment of the sovereign, peaceable, Christian nation of Ukraine, also historically older than Russia. Trump must also correct his grossly false public accusations of President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, and of who started the war, which has already killed close to two million men, women, and children. Find photos of Ukrainian child victims on Jake Broe, online – and weep. The war is now longer than WWII, with comparatively little news about it. There is no way to stop the war without crushing Russia by destroying its petroleum industry – which Ukrainians are achieving with remarkable skill. I still characterize Trump as a sort of idiot savant, idiot side being foreign policy.
******
Trump’s expletive-laden descriptions of illegal aliens refer to those who are killers, rapists, thieves, and terrorists. How many of them would you like to keep?
******
On the economy, I have no solution. The first house I bought in Ventura in the 1960s cost me $65,000. It was a small, 2-bdrm.- post-WWII home in a beautiful, safe, quiet, family area. That house now sells for $400,000. I do not have a cure for this disease. I believe when the average working person can no longer buy his own house America’s future will be in grave danger. That time may have already come.
As for that ballroom at the White House - if paid for by private funds, and is truly needed for large meetings, I see no harm. I do hate, however, all that excess slathering of gold leaf in the Oval Office and elsewhere. At the Putin hideout all things are (stolen) gold. Somehow so much fresh gold makes us look cheaper, like Putin.
Responding to Pat Collins:
Hi Pat,
Thank you also for acknowledging my sincerity. We have much in common in our Judeo-Chrisian understanding of today’s world. Yes, discernment, always discernment, it’s serious business to be thought of in humility. End of sermon.
“Urgency and hope,” right again. Urgency without hope is just panic, despair, and defeat, which has nothing to do with Christianity. While I don’t believe it’s the end, I do believe it’s the beginning of a spectacular new era.

December 10, 2025
I hope I have enough time to respond to some of the comments from both Kelly and Pat this week. I wish the issues would not be so redundant. It’s late so I’ll just respond mechanically because the mechanics of my machine have conspired to take me out!
Kelly, you’re first. You say I’m “moving in the correct direction.” I haven’t moved at all. My political views have always been based on Judeo-Christian principals. When Trump violates those principles, I have always opposed him and always will. At this time, I oppose him on virtually all of his Ukraine policies. We strongly disagree on our understanding of principles. He has wildly abandoned common sense as well as those principles. It’s not uncommon to find a man with liberal political attitudes, for example, being part of a traditional Christian congregation but approving of abortion. In Trump’s situation, he clearly seems to have jumped the fence and gone astray on the issue of Ukraine’s defense, ignoring the pure evil of de facto communist Russia under war criminal Putin. His recent demand that Ukraine surrender, after four years of slaughter and the loss of a half-million citizens, is outrageous. His apparent affection for communism and Putin, is disgusting. I despise his entire policy on Ukraine.
This is a new attitude for me, brought on by too much exposure to Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine siding with Putin, and his dumbfounding ignorance, or naivete, about European history, and the reservoirs of blood spilled since Lenin stepped on scene. I must ask whose side he is on? I shouldn’t have to ask that question!
But what of the good things Trump has accomplished? In short, he stopped-cold the 20-million-man flood of undocumented aliens into our country. This alone entitles Trump to a Mulligan, if he also kicks his stupid golf buddy assistant Steve Witkoff to the curb. – after he rectifies his Ukrainian policy. That horrendous policy is quickly bringing on WWIII.
***
Time is short and I am tired. Just one response for Pat this week.
I think I can answer many of your Trump policy objections by citing President Lincoln’s response to those who complained about Grant’s drinking: “I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals, I can’t spare this man. He fights!”
I feel the same. But he now seems to fight on the wrong side. I am among those who believe in the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, that they are worthy of belief (though this has caused a split in the Church) and though they warn of an imminent reordering of our world. Those apparitions also warn of Trump’s hubris.
No one in the Church or out of it need believe these prophecies, but I do.
I’m sorry I’m out of time, and I must confess out of patience with President Trump, especially after reading Trump’s most recent tirades on NATO, Europe, and especially Ukraine. I now see Trump as a danger to world peace, I’m very sorry to say. I don’t think December is through with us yet, neither is Almighty God.

December 3, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
During all the years Kelly and I have been debating (mostly serious) issues, I have rarely agreed with her, she being liberal and I being conservative.
But this week her letter inaugurates a “hoc septimana” within an “annus mirabilis”, almost too fantastic to believe; the Latin for “week”, the latter “great year.” I’m just pretending to be a linguist, because I needed some fancy words to signify the importance of this incredible event.
What’s this all about? For the first time in many years now I must agree with Kelly’s opinions on President Donald Trump’s policies relating to the following political figures. With very few and slight exceptions those people are:
Vladimir Putin, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Jared Kushner, Dar Global, Steve Witkoff, Krill Dmitriev, and their legion of evil, naive, or invincibly ignorant policy facilitators.
Of course, the center of this discussion is our President Donald Trump, and for me specifically, his ungodly misunderstanding and treacherous mistreatment of Ukraine. Though I have been a defender of Trump from the beginning, I have also been consistently critical of his friendship with Putin and his many ludicrously false characterizations of Zelenskyy, Ukraine, and historical events. I still wonder if, by now, he understands that Putin ordered his Russian army to invade Ukraine! Holding such a preposterous belief poisons the well of Judeo-Christian democracy. I also wonder if this is the same strain of naivete suffered by President George W. Bush when he told us that, “When I first met with Putin I looked into his eyes and I saw a soul, I trusted him.” This is stark evidence of that deadly American disease, Yankee Naiveté, which in this treacherous world can get us all killed, possibly very soon.
While I still support Trump’s domestic policies, I can no longer trust his thinking in foreign affairs. Increasingly, I see him as a sort of idiot-savant; great on national but gravely mistaken on many foreign policies and the choosing of the men and women he appoints to run them. I have really begun to despise his personal involvement in financial affairs with family members. Are we to experience the same situation with Trump that we did with Biden and his relatives? Every president swims in an extraordinary sea of tempting conflicts-of-interest. Only his character can save him from sinking. Only true friends will alert him to dangerous ideas and perfidious associations, often at the risk of being banned.
President Trump should abandon his many personal financial plans facilitated by the power and influence of his presidency. It cheapens the moral status of his high office and diminishes the trust he can normally expect.
The word treachery now often arises in his dealings with Ukraine. If he can’t distinguish America’s friends from its enemies, the nation’s defense is greatly jeopardized. I wish I had more time to discuss that infamous 28-point plan being forced on Ukraine by Trump, through Putin.
Kelly, I congratulate you for finally agreeing with me on these issues (said just to get your reaction).

November 26, 2025
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. It’s time to thank God for the cornucopia of blessings we have received.
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for trimming the subjects down somewhat this week.
From my point of view, the political “turn of events” never seem to stop, so I’m hardly phased. Marjorie Taylor Green is a political gadfly, as are a hundred other politicos in both parties. You mention Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney. There was a time when I might have voted for Mitt, but then he ran off the rails. I strongly agree with Liz Cheney’s support of Israel’s right to defend itself against all terrorists. But Liz also went off the rails. Both of these politicians have hoisted themselves by their own petards; they both destroyed their own political futures while intending to damage Donald Trump.
Kelly, politics is mostly combat amongst overinflated egos, most of whom I’m tired of. So, Trump called Liz a “traitor.” Big deal. That’s his opinion. How much time should be spent on this? You are concerned about the “certainty” of retribution by Trump following any criticism. Has there ever been a time in the politics of any nation, since before ancient Greece, that was without retribution? If the citizenry proves any particular “retribution” to be unlawful or unconstitutional, they should pursue designated legal channels. Trump was charged how many times with crimes? He was convicted of 34 felonies a year ago; impeached how many times? Where’s the justice here?
You say, “Some people only understand peril when they themselves are the target.” Do you think it’s possible that Trump is only responding to Democratic Party Trump Derangement?
****
Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video urging U.S. troops to defy “illegal orders” say the FBI has contacted them. “The FBI and Pentagon actions come after President Donald Trump accused the lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” in a social media post.” Names urging defiance of unlawful orders include Senator Mark Kelly and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan, who appeared in a video asking troops to refuse illegal orders.
Mark Kelly should be recalled from retirement to active duty for the purpose of Courts Martial.
****
Reports claim that Trump’s latest Ukraine-Russia peace plan was essentially written by Russia with a virtual surrender for Ukraine. Russia is to keep more territory than it has won in 4-years of fighting, including Crimea.
Donald Trump said Ukraine had shown “zero gratitude” for US efforts to end the conflict.
Donald Trump is behaving treacherously, again. I have been a strong supporter of President Trump, from the beginning, despite sharp misgivings on a number of occasions. If he has any part in forcing Ukraine to give up any sovereign territory, I can no longer support him. It is a singular Judeo-Christian moral issue. He must either defend democracy or communism. The former is good, the latter is pure, murderous evil.
Do No Evil.

November 19, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
“Once more unto the breach, dear [friend], once more”
I hope the Bard forgives my small misquote, but we have been battling with words for several years, and neither of us has conceded to the other’s ideas. Maybe both of us should be concerned about that because if this is typical of American political attitude today it signifies war through weakness, not peace through strength. There is no peace in confusion. We can’t even agree on what the elemental parts of democracy look like. How can I trust the Left when it prefers Communism and socialism to Democracy? Are Democrats ignorant of history? Don’t they know that Marx was a satanist? That’s where Communism got its toxicity.
Trump’s intention to eliminate the Department of Education strongly appeals to those Judeo-Christian conservatives who strive to preserve the nation’s bedrock Judeo-Christian Constitutional framework. This department has no ancient heritage. It’s just one of Jimmy Carter’s ill-conceived ideas. “The establishment [of Dept. Education] was the result of the Department of Education Organization Act (Pub. L. 96-88).” Since 1988 this department has subverted American education, in particular traditional Judeo-Christian moral culture. It has welcomed Communist ideas, promoted abortion, euthanasia, same-sex “marriage”, transgender fallacies, medical sexual transition for children, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), while denigrating most other traditional values.
You say, “I recognize [your] pain and lack of enthusiasm for contrary political discourse....” This is another example of your own misunderstanding. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for controversy. I don’t understand why you Democrats insist on making absurd accusations about Trump wanting to be king. Do you really think he could overthrow the American populace which has more than 400-million firearms in civilian hands? They are there by right of the Second Amendment to our Constitution, especially to defend against such attempts at revolution by the military.
Your swarm of allegations tempts me to chase after them all. I wish I had a flock of rebutting drones and time to answer. I don’t and would otherwise quickly resemble that three-legged tap dancer on ice. So, I will settle for you citing proof of the truth of your suspicions. You insist Trump is deeply involved in Epstein’s criminal conduct – an accusation so serious as to be defamatory per se, “false statements considered so inherently damaging that they are presumed to cause harm to a person’s reputation without needing proof of specific damages” bringing triple damages.
As to Ross Calvin’s proposed, $450 million “statue of Prometheus” planned to be taller than the 350-ft Statue of Liberty, “built to lift up men’s spirits in triumph and heroism – that creative ingenuity is heroic and “selfhood is sacrosanct” (emphasis mine). “sacrosanct” means sacred, holy. Prometheus was the Greek “Titan god who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity. He is also known for his role in shaping humans out of clay and for being punished by Zeus with eternal torment.” I thought creation was God’s job.
Kelly, I too had to research this guy, Calvin. I knew the famous one, but this one was, almost predictably, a leftist Democrat billionaire. Also, I don’t despise him as you say. I fear his stealthy paganism may influence Christians. Let’s give that $450 million to Ukraine to save lives, instead of to our egos to lose souls.
Jeff Bezos, our first tentative Trillionaire, also impowers an AI company named Prometheus. Ironically, both tend to worship mankind.
Note: A trillion is still 1,000 billion.

November 12, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi Kelly,
I guess I’ve just run out of enthusiasm for the issues you raised this week. I know they’re important, but I’m tired of snarky political name-calling and charges that lead us nowhere. The whole political landscape has changed, not just local, state, and national, but global. Things have never been this churned-up since WWII. I’m responsible for my share of snarkiness as well, but it’s past time for me to get more serious, which I will do.
The Democrat Party has calcified and sunk to the bottom of the extreme Left swamp. It has become a truly socialist-communist-anti-Judeo-Christian cult (Haven’t used so many dashes before). Anyway, I was raised at a time when Communism was recognized to be essentially evil and dangerous, truly satanic. Ironically, it became prominent immediately following the end of WWII. Since 1917, this philosophy still holds the record for global homicide, with Chairman Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot (types) always the band majors leading the slaughter with a stream of minors following. Islam has also been killing infidels (i.e. everyone but themselves) since before 1623 and are ascendant again. So, what’s new? It’s always the same kind of people, those who worship the concept of “might makes right” in themselves.
Many now believe in the validity of widespread Christian prophies and their total reordering of a wayward society. We will see.
A recent example of atheistic-communistic rot can be seen in the plans of Ross Callvin, founder of the American Colossus Foundation and bitcoin-mining company Parhelion. According to his foundation’s website the proposed monument would be “taller than the 305-foot high Statue of Liberty” serving as a “beacon of optimism” at a cost of $450m. “The statue will be built to lift up men’s spirits in triumph and heroism [hedonism?] -- that creative ingenuity is heroic, and “SELFHOOD” is SACROSANCT.” (emphasis mine) Didn’t we learn anything from those profits of Baal? The whole idea of this statue should be repugnant to traditional American citizens.
The recent trend seems to welcome these socialists and communists from the Democrat Party: As of September 15, 2024
Greg Casar, Summer Lee, Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders, Danny Davis, Bernia Sanders, and Cori Bush identified randomly. I should add Katie Wilson, Seattle’s newly elected Socialist Mayor. Democrats also swept offices across the east coast.
Note: Just lost 200 words too close to deadline to recover. My apologies.

November 5, 2025
A response to a letter from Pat Collins.
Hello Pat,
Thanks for the letter, though I’m not fond of commenting on Project 2025. You have strong opinions on this Heritage Foundation offering. I have only skimmed (half dozen pages?) over those 900 pages which you suggest, only those with “leisure and energy to read” (why I avoid). I guess I should ask whether you have finished it.
But I do try to understand just why Democrats pump so much steam into their rhetoric. Everything is usually exaggerated, hyperbolized. However, I appreciate that your letter this week is refreshingly calm and reasonable – but still wrong-headed. You see malevolent motives to avoid the normal legislative process, and the Heritage Foundation “doesn’t care whether this is what the citizens of this country want.” On the contrary, they strongly hope the citizens will support the ideas of Project 2025 in order to escape radical Democrat delusions. That calls for strong corrective measures, for fleeing the certifiably crazy, things who are WOKE, things that are gravely un-American and contrary to our historic Judeo-Christian mores.
We should not be putting twenty-million illegal aliens on welfare, Medicare, free schooling, etc., unless all Democrats are willing to foot the bill themselves. I hear the liberal lunes, like communist Mamdani George Soros, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, even echoes from Saul Alinsky, and fear the country is rotting faster than we did in the 70s. On the issue of food, we should provide food to foreigners in their own countries; absolutely no need to bring the world’s millions here to hand-feed them. That way we do the honorable thing in a practical way without destroying the fiscal and social order of our own nation.
The present shutdown is caused by Dem. Chuck Schumer and friends to force trillions in new spending in a crazy budget. On timber management – I recall how it bankrupted loggers over that notorious Spotted Owl – which was later found in abundance. But I do oppose so called “clear cutting.” Federal education should be converted to private education with the hundreds of billions tucked away in university Endowment Funds, a scandal aplenty.
Cost of college tuition is criminally expensive. Example: Harvard Endowment: “$56.9 billion as of June 30, 2025. Walter C. Kester, a Business School professor, had a reported compensation of over $2 million in 2023” “Kirby Smart, the head coach for the University of Georgia, is the highest-paid college football coach. In 2024, he signed a new 10-year, $130 million contract, making his average annual salary about $13.3 million.”
Am I the only one thinking something’s wrong here? “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are [stupid”].
“Rama Duwaji and Zohran Mamdani [pictured smiling] side by side after Mr. Mamdani became the next mayor of New York City on Tuesday night.” Well, we lasted for 250 years.

October 29, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter.
Hi again, Kelly,
I know you will not be surprised to learn that I disagree with every issue you site in your first paragraph.
It is certainly possible to “pick only one or two alarming topics” for discussion. It just takes a little discipline. I’m reminded of an old saying: I am writing you a long letter because I don’t have time to write a short one.
Old age makes that discipline easier for me. I will begin here with one of your favorite topics, Project 2025. When it has been officially promulgated, I’ll pay closer attention. I have a hard time understanding how certain provisions, such as “a personnel database for recommending vetting loyal staff in the federal government” work. But, I have great confidence in the Heritage Foundation. Let’s remember it’s only an initiative, a policy document, not a law. Please start a formal, national debate on these issues, then I will join in. Until then, WWIII is climbing beaches like “The Great Wave,” by artist Katsushika Hokusa.
****
About “The Epstein matter.” You say, “Unlike you, many Americans of both parties are deeply troubled that troubled that many young women were seduced, victimized, passed round, and emotionally brutalized by powerful, wealthy men…” and Trump seeks to “bury it.” You imply that I want this criminal scandal covered up, that I don’t regard this outrage as important. This insult, coming from a member of the most degraded political party in American history, is astonishing! It was your Democratic Party that exclusively facilitated the sexual trafficking hundreds of thousands of little girls, for FOUR YEARS, through the 20-MILLION-man hoard of border insurgents, all the while having your mouthpiece, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, tell his preposterous lies. Who can forget that confident, lying face that reassured us every day that the border was closed? The Epstein Matter was hideous enough as a private activity, concerning perhaps thousands. Your Biden-Harris-Mayorkas crimes involved MILLIONS, over 4-years! Imagine a 15-year-old sex slave having to service multiple men without hope of being rescued. Democratic Party facilitators made the cartels rich. Your Party ignored cartels treating women like public utilities.
There are limits to my patience with the Democrat Party. It has become a pariah, a clear and present danger to the nation! You call Hunter Biden’s crimes “pathetic drug-addled stripper follies but want to tippy-toe past multiple crimes of rape, pedophilia, and human trafficking.” There is nothing I can suggest here other than to have you inform yourself of facts, beginning with researching the Bobulinski laptop. Then tippy-toe over to those now exposed Democratic Party lies and cover-ups.
Kelly, your misunderstanding of military affairs is so confused it would take more than 500 words to correct.
One other thing that you mistakenly got correct. You say, “It appears that your principles are in service to your politics.” This is true. And, the reverse is also true, a great compliment – that my politics are in service to my principles as well, in an effort to keep both consistent with my Judeo-Christian faith.
It seems our dialogue is souring, unnecessarily.

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hello again, Kelly,
You complain about my characterizing some of your political notions as “niggles”. But I’m not painting with such a wide brush, it’s just that you address too many individual issues at a time. I would rather tackle fewer in such a short time.
We don’t always disagree with each other – just most of the time.
I think we would agree, for example, that any effort by Trump to pressure Ukraine into giving up territory to Russia for the sake of some alleged peace treaty, would be unpardonable cowardice. I hear some talk of this now. If Trump forces this issue with Ukraine, we’re no longer close friends. The issue of defeating Russia amounts to avoiding World War 3.
Moving right along – you return to the Epstein files. Let’s not. He worked so hard to earn his eternal flaming cage, let’s not distract him. His friends are anxious to join him as well. Justice in this case is imperative but space on the front burners is competitive, war taking first place.
As to Trump’s alleged attack on our Constitution, and his “mental stability”, if the Democratic Party couldn’t recognize this condition in Joe Biden (the Big Guy) they should be embarrassed to claim it in Trump.
On your statements about those “so vile” National Young Republicans, you have my permission to reprimand them, if you finally do the same to Hunter Biden posing in jock strap among strippers.
Also, you say “Trump II wants to do as it pleases, without criticism.” No, the reality here is that he will do as he pleases, regardless of criticism.
As for the Hegseth news organization agreement, I question this decision. However, making contracts is a very fundamental Constitutional right. Wisdom alone should prevail here.
Lastly, I see that word again, “feculent” and feel the need for a heavy rain suit and hip boots as you describe our president “evacuating his bowels on the country” together “with a couple of other alarming events.” These are not salubrious metaphors, something stinks. It takes me back to the age of Hunter Biden escapades, which were factual.
I must cut this thing short to avoid the fallout.
Next week, let’s discuss the turnaround in the Ukraine-Russian war. Russia is losing and out of gas, making Putin more dangerous than ever!

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hello again, Kelly,

Thank you for defining the term “Blitzkrieg”. I guess there are still people around who are ignorant of the word. However,
once again you use it inappropriately with wild abandon.

I regret to see you so confused, almost, it appears, in panic. Once again you endite Trump for “criminal and civil”
activities “against our people to ensure eventual population compliance with an authoritarian state.” I say if Trump wants
to play Napoleon, he had better speed up the plan. He’s only got about three years left to go. But in a nation like
America, where civilians own about 500 million firearms, it will be an intimating task. Besides, those Democrats who have
contracted “Trump derangement syndrome (TDS)” are in a shrinking minority.

We rarely seem to get free from the swamps of political redundancy, Kelly. We need to move beyond overheated metaphors and
“Fast and Furious” speculation. (A poor phrase for Democrats if you recall) “Operation Fast and Furious - a plan
implemented by the Obama administration in which [2,000] guns were sold to Mexican cartels” by federal [ATF-] agents in
hopes they could identify the drug lords. Surely one of the stupidest plans in American Justice Department history, which
cost one agent his life. “The [final] report essentially cleared the leadership of the [Obama] Justice Department,
including US Attorney General Eric Holder, from any wrongdoing.”

****

Kelly, I don’t have the patience to answer every political niggle. I’m completely fixated upon the coming war, the Third
World one. Interestingly enough, the real-world scenario closely aligns with the mystical one, which I find “worthy of
believe” at this moment. Some of my Catholic friends see events approaching at a slower pace, some not at all, most
understand them to cascade apace. I’m with the cascaders, but I acknowledge the subject itself is taboo among the

comfortable, well-meaning naïve, and atheists. If I were more confident of my remaining earthly longevity, I wouldn’t sound
the alert. But that would be cowardly and I’m not that confident.

God’s loving generosity has provided time for me to review His “very good” (read perfect) gift of creation, and we as

appointed stewards. World powers like NATO, America, and the rest of the Free World, are finally taking seriously
belligerent threats from Slave World nations like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. We all have at least two
perspectives, war or peace. Credible western military historians mostly agree that war is inevitable, some see it coming

slower, others sooner. Those religious mystics I believe say war is imminent.

Judeo-Christian mystics emphasize prayer, spiritual mortification, and appeal to Divine Mercy in order to stave off what they prophesy as a “Chastisement” or “Purification” in unheard of proportions. From a Catholic perspective (which is not
dogma) much detail can be found in many books under the title of The Warning. According to this source the world is more
evil than at any time before, even before the Flood. These ordeals will affect the entire world and every human being.

Those of us who find these prophesies worthy of belief will be greatly ridiculed. It should be noted that the most esteemed
bishops, priests, including exorcists and noted mystics, today and from the distant past, find this prophesy worthy of
belief, though they are not bound to believe.

I think the famous poem by William Butler Yeates perfectly explains our condition:

The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

****

Who can say it better?

A response to Kelly Scole’s letter.

Hi Kelly,

If I misunderstood statements made by Trump, Stephen Miller “Voldemort”, and Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth (those you have quoted), I would also have been “almost speechless”. So, allow me to rescue you from those “vile statements” that seem to threaten you.

I would like to summarize some issues this week to speed up those which we have already discussed to save space and bestow mercy on any faithful but long-suffering readers.

You vilify both Trump and his minion Stephen “Voldemort” Miller. I defended both because I read their words free of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).

You blast Pete Hegseth for being a “cocky tin soldier.” Cocky he may be, but he wears two bronze stars and a Combat Infantry Badge. Though he is a graduate of Harvard and Princeton, I do not favor him at his present position as Secretary of War, only because he lacks, in my opinion, necessary experiential depth. I also think the meeting of the generals should not have been so public. That was unnecessarily demeaning.

But criticism of flag officers was well earned. The Pentagon is full of slackers. Take the Bozo Brothers of the Biden administration, Lloyd Austin and Mark A. Milley. Many others come to mind, like the former Commander of our Coast Guard, Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, who refused a direct presidential order from Trump in order to protect the dozen or so gay sailors under his command. At issue was the transgender military ban. Following Trump’s 2017 tweets banning transgender people from the military, Zukunft publicly stated he would not “break faith” with some dozen transgender sailors under his command. In war he would have been arrested, court martialed, and jailed.

And let us not forget the extraordinarily traitorous conduct of General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff! Milley, made two phone calls to his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Li Zuocheng, in late 2020 and early 2021 to assure Zuocheng that Milley would warn him if Trump intended to attack China. Biden gave Milley a preemptive pardon to save him from Trump’s wrath. An example of where court martial, conviction, and the firing squad would have been appropriate during wartime.

Include also, U.S. Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr., fired by President Donald Trump on February 21, 2025, from his position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Another example to highlight the dry rot among those true “military stalwarts” you properly salute, are those real “tin soldiers” Trump and Hegseth are determined to eliminate.

Meet Leonard Glenn Francis (“Fat Leonard”). “The “Fat Leonard” scandal involved Malaysian defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis who bribed numerous U.S. Navy officers with gifts, luxury travel, and prostitutes to direct naval ships to his company’s ports and to overbill the Navy for services. The scheme resulted in the largest corruption case in U.S. Navy history, with hundreds of officials under scrutiny and multiple indictments. After Francis fled in 2022, he was recaptured in Venezuela and eventually sentenced to 15 years in prison in November 2024.”

Also, “Retired four-star Admiral Robert P. Burke was sentenced to six years in prison (72 months) and three years of supervised release for a bribery scheme, a sentence handed down on September 16, 2025, after his May 2025 conviction for conspiracy to commit bribery and other offenses. He was found guilty of accepting future employment from a government vendor in exchange for awarding that company a government contract.

Please Note: I thoroughly support all our armed forces (especially the troops – the “grunts”) of which I was a part for three years (B.C.). As in many churches, it’s the administration in military leadership that is mostly responsible for scandal, failure, and disunity. They should fry for their infidelity. The 850 “fragging” incidents in the Marine Corps and Army during the Vietnam War were largely reactions to woefully incompetent leadership. It’s always leadership and character. You can’t have one without the other.

I wish I had more time to respond to Kelly’s letter this week, but I’m starting late with space restrictions.

I was alarmed to hear that Kelly was “almost speechless” over [my] last column (9-25-2025). After reviewing that editorial I
see that I did in fact “mix up quotations attributed to Voldemort [Stephen Miller] Trump’s Chief-of-Staff, who delivered the
Goebbels’ Nazi eulogy, not Trump.”

I’ve never read a Potter novel but find descriptions of Voldemort aplenty online. Here are some: “Ruthless, cold, and
powerful. Voldemort is evil incarnate, and has no other motive than to keep himself alive, no matter what the cost to his
soul ...” “Voldemort was once a student at Hogwarts, but he practiced so much dark magic by the time he killed Harry's
parents that he was not considered fully human.” This is not the Stephen Miller I know.

Kelly continues, “I quoted Trump explicitly rejecting Charlie Kirk’s Christian principles” i.e. “I hate my opponents and
don’t want the best for them (tongue-in-cheek, at which the audience chuckled, recognizing Trump’s self-deprecating humor).

I also found these admissions online: “Furthermore, Democrats and watchdog groups have accused Miller of frequently
promoting and repeating neo-Nazi and white nationalist views.” Oh – so it’s Democrats who spread this kind of hate?

Another online post: Miller "plagiarized" his speech from a 1932 Goebbels address titled "The Storm is Coming":

It seems to me that Trump here has a lot in common with Miller and Goebbels. This is not surprising when we acknowledge
fictional characters are very often copies from real life. Kelly has conflated Trump’s alleged character flaws with
Voldemort’s by associating it with her view of Trump’s Chief-of-Staff. I must ask which character Kelly hates most, leaving
the fictional person out. It sounds to me like both Trump and Miller are included in a typically free-floating Democrat
cloud of hatred. Among those demonic Nazi Party luminaries, Joseph Goebbels is especially detestable. In this case my
mistake amounts to a distinction without a difference. However, I apologize profusely for any misquotes.

A quick online search for that infamous Goebbels’ speech shows nothing novel. Metaphors relating to the word “storm” are
common. To accuse Miller of plagiarizing Goebbels’ speech is at least unreasonable. I can’t see Miller searching Nazi
archives for eulogy material. Stephen Miller is an honorable man. Joseph Goebbels was a demonic thing.

Numerous online posts repeat this malicious falsehood: @robertmckechnie7426 “Why is Voldemort giving speeches?” @myles1451
“Is this Goebbel’s speech???” “We got Voldemort trying to start a race war before GTA 6”

****

But I wanted to talk about that war, not Goebbel doppelgangers. Russia has run out of gas, thanks to Ukrainian ingenuity and
determination. The big war is at the door. Remember there is more power in prayer than megatonery.

I don’t have much room to scribble this week. I just have to answer Kelly’s letter with a few bullets (publishing expression for short text).

Hi again, Kelly,

I try to put the death of Charlie Kirk out of mind for a while. The picture of his beautiful wife weeping over his casket is
too much. As for his killer, Tyler Robinson, he deserves the death penalty, more to discourage copycats than retribution.
However, if he is taken out of human circulation for the rest of his life, being a young man, that might be worse than
death. But you say, “until a year or so ago,” “Tyler was a religious MAGA gun enthusiast.” Kelly, it certainly took more
than a “year or so” to convert to believing murder was a normal, justified option. Once again, he used his free will for
evil, the oldest evil since Adam and Eve. Cain, jealous of his brother, also used his free will to murder Abel. Maybe
Robinson was jealous of Charlie’s success, maybe seduced by his boyfriend.

You question Charlie Kirk’s widow who “brilliantly” asked that the death penalty not be applied to the assailant, and
offered forgiveness to him, because “he [Charlie] wanted to save young men.” Do you question the sincerity of her
forgiveness? Do you question the sincerity of Charlie’s wish to “save young men”? And you think this just “a worthy issue
for another discussion”? And you “will follow her progress”? Progress to where? Erika Kirk is Catholic. Charlie was
becoming Catholic as well, but I find him named in three different denominations online. Charlie “told the bishop about his
Catholic wife and children and how he attended Mass with them.”

The point here, Kelly, is that Charlie was a deeply devout Christan man espousing Christian beliefs, among which is to “save
young men,” women and children. To say that Erika’s funeral statement of forgiveness was “brilliantly” given almost
implies it was improvised for public consumption, which you can’t possibly believe. I refuse to believe that was your
intent.

Lastly, you compare Trump’s funeral eulogy to “Nazi rhetoric,” more specifically to that of the infamous Josef Goebbels,
Nazi Propaganda Minister who poisoned his six children before committing suicide. Really? That’s what you think of your
president? This characterization of Trump’s statement, “railed against “nasty” political violence coming from the radical
Left” seems to better reflect your own emotions.

****

We don’t hear enough of the Russian-Ukraine war which is finally snapping all of Europe to attention this week. Trump has
finally recognized that Putin has been making a fool of him with all the compliments, and expressions of friendship. He now
acknowledges that that relationship 'didn't mean anything'...” He describes Russia as a “Paper Tiger” and now thinks
“Ukraine can win back all of its territory taken by Russia...” He’s also beginning to see how good the Ukrainian military
really is.

Remarkably, he said all this at the UN, to an astonished audience.

Most importantly, Trump said Poland was entitled to shoot down Russian aircraft that intrude into Polish territory.

Ukraine may have been mauled mercilessly for three and a half years by Russian Orcs, and lost a half-million men, but they
will prevail if supported. I believe triumph will come at the cost of tactical nuclear war because Europe and America have
dithered too long, with too little. Russia is on the cusp of financial collapse and will, in desperation, reach for the
smaller nukes, daring Europe to respond. That’s the bloody crux.

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hello again, Kelly,

Men of good will suffer today due to an inconceivably evil event, the assassination of a much loved and honored Good
Samaritan, Charlie Kirk, a man for all seasons. He was murdered by a young man with a diseased mind and soul. That disease
was hate, identified in Christian doctrine as one of seven deadly sins. I think it’s impossible to retain the level of hate
necessary to commit murder without abandoning an equal amount of life-affirming virtue. Common sense, natural law, and
Judeo-Christian faith tell us that life in this world has always involved war between good and evil. It has never been
otherwise, and Judeo-Christian doctrine describes the battle lines.

The world today mostly ignores this spiritual onslaught because it denies eternal truths, including the “resurrection of the
body and life ever after” as the prayer goes.

Just a few reflections on Kelly’s assertions:

Firstly, I define the murder of Charlie Kirk as an act of satanic malevolence which attaches to every aspect of radical
LGBTQ+ which demonizes him today: “… but his [Kirk’s] legacy is not one of honest discourse. Kirk built his brand by
demonizing LGBTQ+ people and other minorities, frequently spreading disinformation about transgender people and gender-
affirming care.” The history of Kirk’s mission shows this condemnation by the radical Left is a lie told to cover the
killer’s homosexual confusion and religious hostility - to justify murder. He used his free will to join the Dark Side.

Kelly, you worry about “vows of vengeance [by conservatives against] anyone disputing Kirk’s canonization…” You quote
“conservative celebrity Megyn Kelly without clarifying the content. You use an ellipsis but cut too much content. Kudos
however for the alliteration: “How far afield from facts…” Don’t see them much today. You reference Barack Obama, but I
don’t get the meaning. I thought Obama was a political dandy, much like that three-legged tap dancer on ice.

Unfair, I think, for you to castigate killer Tyler Robinson for being part of a “gun family, a Mormon with a youth pastor.”
May I remind you that “Hitler was raised Catholic and attended a Benedictine monastery school in Lambach, Austria, for about
three years during his childhood. His mother, Klara, was a devout Catholic and had him baptized and confirmed in the Roman
Catholic Church.” As usual, the killer here used his free will to violate Exodus 20:13 of the Torah, “You shall not murder”
(Ten Commandments.)

Considering the facts in this case, Kelly, your last paragraph is mysterious. “What mindsets are open to violence?” The
answer is apparent: res ipsa loquitur! (The thing speaks for itself.) Just determine who is doing the killing! Strange, I
can still remember my Army serial number from 65 years ago, and a legal phrase also from afar, but forget appointments.

May the soul of Charlie Kirk, with the all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God rest in peace, and his beautiful
family find consolation. His was a message of peace, love, and truth, like Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hi Kelly,

My first distraction, as I write tonight, has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with mosquitoes, in particular the
one that bit my arm a while ago causing redness, swelling, and infernal itching. It’s a maddening thing. So, I’m going to
make this thing shorter than usual.

I’ve mentioned that I am not obsessed with the Epstein scandal. I would like to see the guilty parties indicted, tried,
convicted and sentenced to long terms in solitary confinement. As outrageous as that is, life-threatening issues of national
defense take priority. However, renaming the Dept. of Defense to War Department is appropriate since “The Department of War
was established by George Washington, and he knew what he was doing.”

*****

I’m also sick to death and embarrassed with all this blather about the Nobel Peace Prize. This sort of ambition is
unbecoming a US president, and his sycophantic friends should not encourage it.

*****

As for that Venezuelan narco boat, they can retrieve the pieces, pile them ashore, and blow them up again. I am confident
that the Navy had ample prima facie evidence leading to probable cause to take deadly defensive action. I just feel sorry
for the fish that must now swim through that lethal soup. “As little as 2 mg of fentanyl—the amount of a few grains of salt—
can be fatal.” Hundreds of thousands of Americans have discovered this, too late. You might assuage your grief, Kelly, over
the death of the 11 Venezuelan drug pirates because their deaths were mercifully quick.

*****

On the issue of ostentatious displays of gold objects in the White House, I happen to agree. It makes our President look too
much like Putin in his gold-slathered Kremlin, including the twin 40-foot doors dramatically guarded by two military
Munchkins “a race of small, childlike beings from the Land of Oz” with chins in the air. I have to laugh every time I see
them.

You worry about “federal military intervention.” It’s foolishly dangerous federal policies that have made extreme action
necessary. You say Trump is “encouraging civil war” and “a need for martial law, … just as the rest of the world grows
stronger against us.” Trump should prepare for a probable civil war, Democrats will see to that event - so will Zohran
Mamdani, their resident communist. You say Trump’s military move into cities “is not meant to “fight crime,” but to subdue.”
I agree, it’s meant to subdue rampant crime facilitated by crazy Democratic anti-police and sanctuary cities and state
policies. And you say, “And many of us are asleep.” That’s certainly true, and I believe we will only awaken in an explosive
environment due to decades of defense unpreparedness.

A quick response to Pat Collins’ letter:

Hi Pat,

You seem to rejoice at discovering another “story…that tells us exactly who Donald Trump is.” You then reference a story
alleging Trump used 29-day deployment of National Guard and Army to avoid paying Guard members a stipend or pay for hotel
rooms”

This is just another example of liberal Democrat fake news. Since this is an intentional falsehood it must also be
identified as a lie. The following is what the Gazette found with a little research, which makes further response
unnecessary:

What We Found (and What We Didn’t)

• One social media claim on Fishbowl suggests Trump did “specifically call up the National Guard for 29 days instead of 30—
so that they won’t have to pay them a stipend or pay for their hotel rooms.” Fishbowl - Your Professional Community

• However, there are no reputable news reports or government documents confirming that this was an intentional strategy or
policy directive.

• It’s common in military practice to issue orders lasting fewer than 30 days simply because different pay and benefits
processes apply once a service member hits 30 days of active duty—not necessarily out of cost avoidance. Instagram

*****

Why the Claim Seems Suspect

Claim: Trump used 29-day deployment to avoid paying Guard members

Verified?: No reliable evidence

Notes: Only appears in unverified social/digital anecdotes

Claim: 29-day activations are standard military practice

Verified?: Yes

Notes: Widely used for administrative simplicity—not exclusive to any administration

Claim: Financial reasons alone motivated such scheduling

Verified?: Unproven

Notes: No documentation supports this claim as policy

Claim: Financial reasons alone motivated such scheduling

Verified?: Unproven

Notes: No documentation supports this claim as policy

*****

Bottom Line

The claim appears to be based on rumor or hearsay. While 29-day orders are indeed common in military logistics—primarily
for administrative convenience—it’s misleading to present that as a deliberate cost-saving tactic specific to one
president. There’s no credible evidence that Trump—or any administration—used this as a formal strategy to avoid pay or
benefits.

*****

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

Hello again, Kelly,

I’ve harped a lot on the importance of logic in debate. Its absence or distortion can make accurate communication with
others impossible. Athenians and their neighbors around 400 B.C. understood this. They also clearly understood that
abortion was evil by demanding in their Hippocratic oath “First do no harm” and “I will not give to a woman a destructive
pessary [means of abortion]”. This was an ethical issue 2,500 years ago. This has been Judeo-Christian Gospel for more than
5,000 years. I guess even the pagan Greeks thought their unborn babies too “precious” to kill.

Kelly, you seem to be fixated on my alleged use of the word “precious”. I’m not aware of my frequent use of this word, but
it certainly is appropriate when referring to preborn human children. Why this preoccupation, I don’t know, especially
since you and I and the rest of humanity once lived in precisely the same stage of life.

But more to the point, our debate difficulty lies in the fact that we are using two different logics, different languages,
trying to reach a single truth. Over the years I have come to approach such debates beginning with a few red lines. First,
I draw the critical religious line – between atheists-agnostics and Christians. It’s difficult (as a Christian) to convince
anyone who rejects the Supreme Being Who made all things, most of which are spiritual, of eternal realities. Materialists’
beliefs are limited to things they can see, feel, or touch, or what imagination can provide, like aliens, transgender
beings, or Bigfoot. When I introduce God into the debate as the Supreme Being Who made all things they are stymied. In
Christian theology His (God’s) attributes being inherently, Infinite, Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing),
Omnipresent (everywhere present), Omnibenevolent (all-good), and Omnificent (all-creating). “These attributes describe
God’s supreme, unchanging nature, which allows for all miracles, dominion, and strength in the world and in believers’
lives.” Leave God out of the discussion and reality disappears. Leave faulty logic in - and conclusions whimper to be
corrected.

So, where can we go from here? If atheists deny eternity, i.e. no afterlife, they remain ignorant of who they are, where
they came from, why they’re here, or where they’re going. But as Judeo-Christians we have 5,000 years-worth of answers. So,
before we can engage in meaningful debate here, something has to give. A fundamental understanding of these spiritual facts
will reveal just why the unborn child is immediately “precious and worthy of saving”; it’s because we humans are uniquely
made in the “image and likeness of God” (no aliens). Maybe the solution here is to limit the discussion to politics?

You ask about the problem of evil. You can’t understand this without understanding Biblical history, which includes angels,
rebellion, demons, creation, Adam and Eve, the Fall, Noah, the flood, Abraham, Jesus, redemption, and eternal aggressive
(fruitless) defiance against God. Whether or not you believe this longest of stories or not, you cannot comprehend the
answers without accepting this story which leads ultimately into Heaven or Hell.

As usual, Kelly, there’s neither time nor space to get into firearms issues, etc. However, the problem of evil should keep
you busy enough.

Lastly, you seem to disparage “Originalist doctrine” which belittles one of my heroes, the late, great Justice Antonin
Scalia. Let me just recommend a great book, The Essential Scalia – foreword by none other than supreme Court Justice Elena
Kagan.

I’m praying for you, Kelly, whether you like it or not!

I did not publish my Realities this week after I received the horrible news of this Minneapolis shooting. My topic would have been grossly inappropriate.

An hour before deadline we received a KFI report; “During the Mass, a gunman approached on the outside [of the Catholic church] on the side of the building and began firing [a] rifle through the church windows towards the children sitting in the pews at Mass.”

“The two deceased victims were aged eight and ten. Fourteen of the injured victims were children. Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine for Hennelpin Healthcare, said that two adults and nine children were being treated at the Hennepin County Medical Center. Seven of the victims are in critical condition. The suspect, who has not been identified, opened fire from outside the church, firing through the windows. He was found deceased in the back of the church with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. O’Hara said that the shooter was armed with a shotgun, a rifle, and a pistol.” The suspect was later identified as Robert “Robin” Westman, 23, “identifying” as a female. His mother was an employee of the Annunciation Catholic School.

“Investigators are trying to determine a motive for the shooting. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI are assisting with the investigation.”

“Wednesday’s shooting follows another one in which one person was killed and six others were injured when a man with a rifle opened fire on a crowd of people across the street from a high school on Tuesday.”

This shooting took place while the children were attending Mass.

Pray for the innocent victims.